July 2016 - Washington United Methodist Church

The Meeting House
Monthly Newsletter of
Washington United Methodist Church
“Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the
Transformation of the World.”
July 2016
Inside This Issue
VBS, Ragbrai
2
Stephen Ministry,
Sunday School,
Automatic Withdrawal
3
Missions, Thank You
4
Birthdays
& Anniversaries
5
Vacation Bible School Success!!!
VBS was an exciting and energetic experience for
everyone! We had 45 kids having fun, praising Jesus, connecting
with other kids and adults and learning about God’s love.
Thank you to everyone who participated with helping set
up decorations, volunteering to work with the kids, providing for
the meal and all the work that went into creating a safe, joyous
and positive environment.
Take a look at these pictures …..
Jesus has the power to heal the broken hearted!
Contact Us
319-653-5446
Office hours:
Mon. - Fri.: 8:30-4:00pm
Pastor Ben Blanchard
benblanchard1@gmail.com
Financial Secretary
Tim Johnson
officewashumc@gmail.com
Church Secretary
Nancy Maguire
office@washingtonumc.com
Monday, July 4, Independence Day - Church Office closed!
Visit us on Facebook at ‘Washington United Methodist Church’
1
Story time!
Learning about how much Jesus loves us.
Making crafts!
Our amazing
volunteers getting in on the fun!
Ragbrai Comes to Washington, July 29!
Washington UMC will be giving sleeping space to
three teams and we will host a meal on Friday, July 29,
from 4 - 7pm.
The Church Office is organizing and coordinating
this event, and the plans are starting to come together! Thank you to everyone who
has volunteered thus far. There are still many ways to help out such as traffic control, runners between
various stations, bussers, kitchen helpers, and more.
For those volunteers that have children we have people signed up to provide child care for
children up through 5th grade, for the entire event. There are still opportunities and ways to help out.
If you would like to volunteer in any way whatsoever, please call the office at 319-653-5446.
2
“Therefore encourage one another and build up each other.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
We all experience challenges in life - times when we could benefit from
the support of a caring Christian friend. Stephen Ministers are ready to provide
the emotional and spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty
such as hospitalization, loss of a loved one, divorce, aging, relocation, job loss
and more.
Stephen Ministers are laypeople - Christian men and women - trained to provide one-to-one care
to people experiencing a difficult time in life. They come from all walks of life. Their commonality? A
passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need.
A Stephen Minister begins a caring relationship when he or she is matched with a person
experiencing a life crisis. The Stephen Minister then meets with that person on a weekly basis to listen,
care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. The caring relationship lasts as long as
the person is in need of care.
A Stephen Minister receives 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care,
and meets with his or her care receiver for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need. Men
are matched with male ministers, and women are matched with female ministers and it is completely
confidential. All who serve become part of a team that helps people win life’s toughest battles.
To find out more about Stephen Ministry for you or someone you know, or if you’d like to find out
more about becoming a Stephen Minster yourself, go to stephenministries.org, contact Jean Macenski
at 319-653-6949, or Pastor Ben, or complete a Serve card.
Children’s Ministry
There are so many ways to serve the church and give of your
time. One way is to participate in our Sunday School
program this coming Fall.
Our Sunday School experience this past year was
successful and very encouraging. Our leaders do everything they can to
make Sunday morning the best part of every kid’s week. Consider being a
Large Group leader who sets the tone for the experience or a Small Group
(classroom) leader who creates a safe place to connect. If you would like to
find out more about serving in our Children’s Ministry please complete a
Serve card or contact Pastor Ben at 319-653-5446.
Automatic Offering Withdrawal
Have you ever come to worship service and forgot your checkbook? Have you ever opened
your wallet and realized you forgot to go to the bank? Automatic withdrawal of donations from your
bank account is an easy, secure and reliable way for you to contribute your offerings to the church. It is
much more secure than walking around with money, and it is completely confidential. If you would like
to set up automatic withdrawal, or have any questions about it, please call our Financial Secretary,
Tim Johnson, at 319-653-5446.
3
2016 Third Quarter Mission Opportunities
The following are descriptions of our 2016 Third Quarter mission offerings. Instead of doing separate
offerings during the year you can give once, if you wish, and split your offering in whatever way you choose.
This provides a way to contribute to a mission project that may be of particular interest to you. Just clip out
the coupon, mark how you wish your offering to be divided and send it to the church office along with your
check, payable to WUMC.
Rural Life Sunday - This offering strengthens the nurture, outreach, and witness of congregations in town and
rural areas. It is ministered through Town and Country ministries.
Christian Education Sunday - This offering helps support the Christian Education program of the United
Methodist Church nation-wide to educate to all ages. Classes are available for many interests and needs to
help teach about the love of God, Jesus, and the Methodist traditions.
Christmas in July - This local offering, administered through HACAP, provides school clothes and supplies to
children who need them.
School Backpack Project - This offering, also administered through HACAP, goes to qualified children who are
given food to take home for the weekend.
2016 Third Quarter Mission Offering
Use one check, but mark how you wish your offering to be divided.
$____________ Rural Life Sunday
$____________ Christian Education Sunday
$____________ Christmas in July
$____________ School Backpack Project
$_______________________Total Amount
Name____________________________________________
Mission Minutes
Thank you to the
following people who delivered
Meals-on-Wheels in April and May:
Vic Patterson, Cheryl & Todd Crone,
Gerry & John Sproule, Ella Mae Ruppert
Our next opportunity will be in December. If
you would like to help out with this mission, please
contact our coordinator Shirley Pfeifer at
319-653-5283.
Thank you!
Tel.#___________________________________________
Saturday Kitchen
Saturday, July 2
It is Washington UMC’s turn to
host Saturday Kitchen at the United
Presbyterian Church, 209 E. Main St., here in
Washington. There are many ways to volunteer
and help with this ministry, whether it be a
donation of your time or funds, it is all greatly
appreciated. For information, please contact Vic
Patterson at 319-653-4304.
I would like to thank everyone who helped with the last Saturday
Kitchen in May. From donating meat, to helping in the kitchen as well as
the monetary donations, it was all very much appreciated.
Vic Patterson
4
2
JR Fikuart
Don Lawless
James Libe
Sonja Libe
Krew Liska
Amanda Soper
Marilyn Whitenack
3
Steve Cole
Brandon Collett
4
Kayla Bodkin
Douglas Enfield
Robert Helscher
Perry Libe
Marcia Peterson
5
Michael Coon
Lisa Horn
6
Rodney Christner
Elizabeth Reschly
7
Christine Doonan
Braeden Nielsen
8
Shannyn Paul
Dawn Schindler
Macy Visser
2
Linda Brown
& Merle Davis
3
Ella May & Robert
Ruppert
Kathy & Joe Wallace
5
Pat & Murray Coon
6
Linda & Duane
Van Winkle
July Birthdays!
9
Fred Stark
Nancy Stark
10
Abby Schnicker
11
Renae Crull
Matthew Smith
Andrew Venenga
12
Stephanie Loy
13
Mary Lowrey
Jackson Schwarten
Barbara Wilson
17
Kyle Basten
MacKenzie Crawford
John Minneman
Sherry Norman
Kate Ross
Sydney Williams
18
Larry Guy
Maggie Kielenstyn
22
David Adrian
Bev Zwicki
23
Dan Stauffer
Jennifer Young
14
Madeline Bohr
Janice Crawford
24
Earl Craig
James Peterson
15
James Dunn
Brenda Fishback
25
*Mickey Bump
Addison English
16
John Carter
Denise Chalupa
Doug Tindal
26
Kelsey Bishop
Jaimee Edwards
Stephanie Fishback
Dale Richards
July Anniversaries!
7
Linda & Gary Collins
Christine & Trent Doonan
Jess & Mark Moore
Elizabeth & Timothy
Timmins
8
Stefanie & Trevor Tschantz
9
Jill & Jeff Moore
13
Brandon & Rhiannon Long
27
Greg Sinn
28
Sue Basten
Rich Crull
Joyce Peiffer-Smith
29
*Leona Blum
Pat Coon
Nicole Greiner
Cindy Guy
Mike Maxted
Norma Turnipseed
30
Gary Collins
Vicki Helfrich
Sandi Ropp
Elizabeth Sansen
Brenna Weidman
31
Dalton Christner
Gerry Sproule
*Bold names indicate
90+ birthdays!
16
Pam & Doug Tindal
22
Becky & Wayne Kaufman
26
Jane & Joseph Evanovich
Elaine & Michael Moore
27
Sonja & Bruce Campbell
Brenda & Larry Fishback
Cheryl & David Schmitt
28
Nicole & James
Peterson
31
Janice & Ron
Crawford
Jamie & Matthew
Schneider
5
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE
PAID
Washington United Methodist Church
206 West Second Street
Washington, IA 52353-1925
WASHINGTON, IOWA
PERMIT NO. 104
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
open doors
open minds
open hearts
Sunday Worship
To Come, to Connect, to Grow, to GO!
Contemporary Service: 9:30am
Traditional Service: 11:00am
Washington United Methodist Church
206 West Second St.
Washington, IA 52353-1925
Tel: (319)653-5446 www.washingtonumc.com
E-Mail: office@washingtonumc.com
Meeting House